Results 5,401-5,420 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Membership (4 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland supports the accession of Turkey to the EU. However, the domestic situation in Turkey remains a matter of concern, both for Ireland and our European partners and I would like to reiterate the serious concern I have expressed several times already in this House at the escalation of violence since the breakdown of the ceasefire between the Turkish Government and the Kurdistan Workers...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (4 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland continues to support the territorial integrity of Iraq and does not propose to intervene in internal constitutional matters of Iraq, which are for decision by the Iraqi people and their democratically elected leaders.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (4 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I have repeatedly condemned the horrific violence against all civilians in Syria and Iraq and have stated that there must also be legal accountability for victims of the Syrian conflict. In 2014 we co-sponsored a resolution calling for referral of the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court which was vetoed by Russia and China. Our support for referral of the situation in Syria...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (5 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: To address the anticipated increase in passport applications over the summer period the Passport Service has recruited Temporary Clerical Officers who will work a total of 5,122 weeks this year. Additional Temporary Clerical Officers will be recruited shortly for a total of 780 weeks to manage the significant increase in phone calls and customer queries over the remaining peak period. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Staff (5 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland’s network of embassies and missions around the world are critical to the achievement of our foreign policy and trade goals. The information requested by the Deputy is listed in the following table: MISSION Staff posted from HQ Locally recruited staff Brazil: Brasilia Sao Paulo 2 2 4 2 Cyprus 1 3 India 7 (incl. 4 D/Justice & Law Reform...

Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion (6 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Not true.

Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion (6 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy could have been a Minister.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (17 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I have repeatedly condemned the violence in Syria against civilians and wish to make clear my absolute abhorrence of the horrific reports from Aleppo and the suburbs of Damascus in recent days. I also want to condemn the continuing, deliberate denial of humanitarian relief to Daraya by the Assad regime in recent days. The targeting of a civilian population is a war crime. I refer to UN...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (17 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 578 and 579 together. The issue of euroscepticism is complex and multifaceted, but euroscepticism is by no means a majority position across the EU or its Member States. Governments and citizens across Europe continue to hold broadly positive views on the European Union. The EU, and Ireland as a Member State, engages with the big issues of the day,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (17 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The world is currently facing a level of humanitarian crisis unprecedented in recent decades, and appeals for assistance continue to outpace the international community’s capacity to respond. Almost 60 million people are now displaced globally, the great majority of them fleeing from situations of conflict. Ireland’s humanitarian response focuses on the most severe crises,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukrainian Conflict (17 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ukraine, and in particular resolution of the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, remains a priority for the European Union. Discussion of the situation in Ukraine has featured on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council in January, March and April this year, either as a stand-alone item, or in broader discussions around the European Union’s relationship with Russia and the Eastern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Safety of Irish Citizens Abroad (17 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Government is acutely conscious of the safety and security issues associated with such a major event. My Department is therefore actively engaging with the authorities in France and other key stakeholders in order that all appropriate measures are taken to ensure that Irish citizens are safe. The primary responsibility, of course, for the security of visitors in France lies with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Oversight (17 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland’s aid programme has consistently been recognised internationally for its quality, effectiveness and engagement with the Irish public. We place a strong emphasis on aid transparency in the Government’s development programme, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Publishing data on aid activities allows the Irish public and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (17 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: I can assure the Deputy that I am fully aware of the significant challenges the introduction of Lifetime Community Rating presents for the international health insurance policy operated by my Department. My Department administers foreign assignments for officials from across Government Departments who are assigned to serve the State in a variety of roles across our Mission network. A...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (17 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The situation in the two villages referred to by the Deputy are different in nature. Susiya, in the south Hebron hills in the occupied Palestinian Territory, is a community of herders, although they are not Bedouin. It has already been subject to demolition on number of occasions over many years, including destruction of caves and tents used by residents after their houses were...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (17 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Respect for human rights and the promotion of human rights has always been and will continue to be a cornerstone of Ireland’s foreign policy. The Government therefore remains concerned about all reported cases of political imprisonment, including those in China. My Department is however unaware of the case of the individual in question. Ireland and its partners in the EU have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (17 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Leonard Peltier was convicted of the murder of two FBI agents who died during a confrontation on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in 1975. He was arrested in Canada on February 6, 1976, and extradited to the United States where he was tried in 1977. I am aware that a campaign has been mounted over the years seeking Mr. Peltier’s release and that the case has also...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (17 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: In relation to the Middle East, as in many areas of foreign policy, Ireland acts principally through the European Union, as the best means of exerting influence on the issue. In my previous reply referred to, I outlined a number of recent actions of the EU in relation to settlements. Some of these had a noticeable political impact in Israel, but I have continued to argue at EU level that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (17 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: The Government and my Department are continuing to pursue every constructive avenue to secure the release of this citizen and we will continue to bring all of our influence to bear on his behalf through all appropriate channels. All of the sustained and focused actions that have been taken by the Taoiseach, myself and other Ministers, and by my Department and our Embassy in Cairo, are in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 May 2016)

Charles Flanagan: Throughout this year the demand for passports has been exceptionally high. From 1 January to 13 May the Passport Service has received a total of 314,585 applications for passport books and 9,475 for passport cards. This represents a significant increase of almost 15% in applications for passport books compared to the same period last year. To address the anticipated increase over the...